Villopoto Rides Win Streak To Houston

Ryan Villopoto hopes to continue his winning streak this season as the Monster Energy AMA Supercross tour heads to Houston. (Pete Richards photo)

AURORA, Ill. – Monster Energy AMA Supercross returns to Houston’s Reliant Stadium this Saturday night for the 13th race of the season as the world’s greatest racers aim to remove two-time defending champion Ryan Villopoto from the number-one position.

At the lone international stop of the Monster Energy Supercross Championship Villopoto reeled off his fourth consecutive 450SX Class win and his seventh of the season.

After winning the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot Award Villopoto slipped a few positions but staged a game of catch up. On Lap 11, Villopoto moved around leader Davi Millsaps and rode to his 31st-career victory.

“It was unbelievable,” said Villopoto. “Davi is riding really well and he was riding exceptionally well [tonight]. I got around him with about halfway to go [in the Main Event] and I was able to get a little bit of a gap. Everybody up here [on the podium] is unbelievable and it shows how fast we really are when we run a pace like that on a track that was so [difficult].”

Millsaps went unchallenged en route to a runner-up effort, signifying his first podium finish since a third-place effort in Atlanta four races ago.

“It was definitely a good race,” said Millsaps. “I got off to a pretty good start and I just tried to ride my own race as much as I could. I made a lot of mistakes here and there and throughout the first half of the race. Ryan [Villopoto] eventually got by me and I did the best I could to keep up and do whatever I could (to hang in there).”

Shortly after Villopoto took over the lead, Dungey stalled his bike while trying to close the gap on Millsaps, losing the third spot to Reed. Just a couple laps later, Dungey reclaimed the position to secure his third consecutive podium finish.

Villopoto now carries a 12-point lead over Millsaps into the 13th race of the season. Dungey sits 22 points out of the lead in third.